Introducing The Passionate Songwriter… Jennie Harluk

If you’re in search of a singer-songwriter that showcases immersive storytelling and passionate vocals then Jennie Harkuk is for you. Since she was a little girl, Jennie has always gravitated to the broad world of music. Raised by her father, who was an accomplished artist, the young talent found herself surrounded by the unforgettable sounds of an array of genres.

Over the years, her love for music continued to grow and soon she found herself creating her own songs. When it came to her creative process, Jennie used the melodies and words in her head when creating songs vs using an instrument. As she dove further into her artistry she then began to learn how to play the guitar.

Fast forward to 2021 and the Calgary-based talent has a wide range of events and performances under her belt including Country Thunder Festival, various Calgary Stampede events, local coffeehouses, and all-age venues. Alongside her performance history, Jennie has also created a local concert series of her own called Country Night Live – which supports local talent and charities.

With her EP set for release next year, and her ever-growing fan base Jennie Harluk is showing no signs of slowing down. We were able to chat with her about everything from her single ‘The Fool’, the accompanying video, her future music releases and more.

Congratulations on releasing your third single ‘The Fool’. How does it feel to finally have it out?

Thank you! It’s been very exciting. This was definitely an emotional song for me to release but in that I’ve found so many people who relate and that makes all the nerves and vulnerability worth it. 

The track is full of emotive lyrics that tug at the heartstrings. Can you take us through what inspired the creation of the song?

All my songs are connected to me somehow, I’m very proud of the lyrics in this song and I’m so glad the emotion is conveyed to people outside of me and my experience that inspired it. The inspiration for this song came from a place of heartbreak, a last push of healing from a person who just wasn’t right, and didn’t know how to love right either in our particular relationship. I think a lot of people can relate to friendships and relationships that are toxic, but they’re blinded by love for the person that they put up with so much that they shouldn’t. 

You also released a fantastic accompanying video for the track. What themes or meanings did you want to be portrayed in the visual?

Thank you! I came up with the concept and filmed this video with one of my best friends Isabella Morton. She filmed and directed and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Izzy(as I call her) knew the emotion I had behind this song and pushed me visually to show the heartbreak through this video. One motif throughout the video you might notice is flowers. We figured flowers are commonly accompanied with an apology when somebody messes up in a relationship. The amount of flowers In the video symbolize how many apologies were forgiven again and again no matter how big the fight or lie or betrayal. Note: flowers don’t mean somebody will change!!! 

Taking it back a bit, when did you first fall in love with music?

For as long as I can remember, music has always been in my life and something I loved. I truly can’t tell you the defining moments I fell in love with it, it’s just always been inside me. I do have core memories as a kid of times music really affected me like listening to ur blasted through speakers in the garage cleaning cars with my dad, or specific songs that I loved when I was really young… which leads me into your next question! 

Was there a specific artist that had a strong impact on you growing up?

When I was about four, I fell in love with a certain song and video. We always played music in the car and I learned all the words to “Like we never loved at all” by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. She wore a yellow dress in the video and at four I didn’t know the title so I’d simply request to play “the yellow dress song” whenever we were in the car. I remember driving home and hearing the song, and that’s a moment I can define as being inspired or drawn to do music when I grew up! 

By age 10 you started writing your own music. Do you still remember the first track you wrote?

I do actually! I can’t remember what I called it but I was in fifth grade and wrote it I believe about being sad over some girls that were mean in school. Haha. Experience is key, always write from the heart. Safe to say that song was never tracked! 

How has your songwriting and creative methods evolved over the years?

I think that just by getting older and experiencing more interactions with life and people I’ve gained inspiration and emotion towards a lot. I’ve always taken my songs to heart and the lyrics have always been the most important part of my music to me so in that sense it hasn’t changed, I just think my life has and that impacts the music! 

With The Fool making its rounds, will you be releasing an EP or album soon?

As of right now an EP is not planned for a specific date but will come sometime in the future! I can tell you however I do have a third song on the way very soon! Be sure to keep a lookout on my socials @jennieharkuk on all platforms for more on that! 

Can you give us a sneak peek into the project? What can music listeners expect?

This next single is a little different for me, I took the cliche and predictable image of the song and really flipped it on its head. So I’m very excited to share that… let’s just say I’m bringing my own take on “the nightmare before Christmas”! 

With 2022 right around the corner, what are five goals you want to achieve in the new year?

I would love to reach 10K followers and friends on Instagram, I love sharing my life on that platform specifically and we’re growing slowly but surely! 

Possibly an EP somewhere in the next 12 months?! 

Continue exploring my creativity through visuals on each song I release 

I would love to release an acoustic version of my released songs and maybe give a glimpse of some stripped down versions of songs I haven’t yet released

And finally just continuing to write music and do what I love, working with new writers and producers and Meeting new people in the industry! I’m very excited to share the music I’ve been working on with everyone!

Make sure to check out Jennie Harluk’s brand new single ‘The Fool’.